SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — A new law in Illinois will make it easier for people with disabilities to obtain license plates and parking placards by cutting “red tape” out of the process.
Senate Bill 1256 was passed unanimously by both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly earlier this year, and it was signed into law by Governor J.B. Pritzker on Friday. State Senator Steve McClure (R-Springfield) and State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Murrayville), the primary sponsors of the bill, explained that the bill allows certifications for disabled individuals to remain valid for five years and allows licensed physical therapists to sign off on applications, which the legislators said will save families time and the cost of additional medical visits.
Under prior law, disabled individuals or their parents/guardians had to submit documentation from a doctor to the Secretary of State on a yearly basis to receive the placards and license plates.
“With this law, we are making sure that people with permanent disabilities no longer face repetitive and burdensome hurdles just to access parking accommodations they rely on,” McClure said in a news release. “This law addresses a real problem by cutting red tape and making state government work better for the people it serves.”
“This bill was just basic common sense. There’s no reason a person with a permanent disability should have to prove that every year,” Davidsmeyer added. “This will alleviate hassle for both Illinoisans and government alike.”
The issue was brought to the legislators’ attention by a woman who lives with multiple sclerosis and who said the law will make a meaningful difference for both her and other Illinoisans.
